Index card and system



Dec. 29, 1936. RAND 2,065,738

INDEX CARD AND SYSTEM Filed April 25, 1933 2 Sheets Sheet 2 jfi' 404 10; 04

lrzderzlar Patented Dec. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES mpax can!) AND SYSTEM James H. Rand, North Falmouth, Mass, assignor to Philrand, Inc., North Falmouth, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application April 25, 1933, Serial No. 667,810

'1 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in index arrangements and elements, and particularly to such systems employing a series of overlapped cards or sheets.

Many index arrangements afford a series of overlapping sheet elements having laterally. projecting supports engageable in channels at either side of a supporting frame or panel. Certain features of the present invention are particularly applicable to index cards of this type.

In accordance with the present invention, the cards or sheets may be provided with'holders adapted to engage flanges having their edges spaced inwardly appreciably from the edges of the cards so that the cards cover these flanges. Thus, the supporting or tongue portion of the index card or sheet is narrower than the body portion thereof, and, if desired, tongue portions of a single standardized width may be employed with cards of various widths, the distance between the flange edges in panels of different sizes affording a standardized dimension corresponding to the dimensions of the tongue portions of the cards.

This invention further relates to cards or sheets for indexes provided with adjustable signal devices movable into a plurality of adjusted positions. Such a signal device may be associated with the lower edge of each card, this portion of the card being marked with a plurality of symbols, adjoining which the signal may be located to indicate certain conditions in regard to the particular index card. Preferably the lower margin of the card or sheet may be upturned and covered with a transparent sheath, holding the upturned portion in substantially parallel relation to the adjoining lower part of the body portion of the sheet. This upturned portion preferably may be provided with a plurality of openings or recesses to receivethe signal, which may be visible not only through the transparent sheath, but above the same. Preferably the signal may be provided in any one of several colors to contrast with the color of the cards and the sheaths. Thus inspection of the visible lower margins of the overlapping index elements or 'cards permits a quick observation of certain facts in regard to the subject matter indexed by the cards, or the arrangements of words or data included thereon.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a broken front elevation of an index element formed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a broken top view of the same, a portion of a supporting frame also being shown;

Fig. 3 is a section indicated'by line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation showing a series of index elements of the type illustrated in Fig. 1 arranged in their normal overlapped positions;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the signal element;

Fig. 6 is a broken front elevation of an optional form of index element;

Fig. 7 is a broken end or edge elevation of the same;

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of another optional type of index sheet;

Fig. 9 is a broken end or edge elevation of the same; and

Fig. 10 is a broken isometric view of an optional form of index card.

The features of the present invention may be employed either with single index cards or with index elements formed by folding or doubling a sheet back upon itself to afford a front overlapping leaf, and a somewhat longer rear leaf. The latter type of element is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and is designated generally by the numeral I, including the shorter front leaf 2 and the longer rear leaf 3, connected by an upper return bent fold portion 4.

In accordance with this invention, the element i may be provided with a support or tongue portion 5 which, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, may conveniently be in the form of a thin sheet element having portions folded over in engagement with the opposite faces of the upper part of the folded sheet I. At the front of the index element the sheet metal may be of substantially rectangular form, as shown in Fig. 1, while at the rear thereof its ends are extended to afiord tongues 6, the metal being bent outwardly and rearwardly to afford short, laterally inclined connecting portions 8 between the tongues 6 and the adjoining body portion of the member 5. The rear of the member 5 is also extended downwardly to afford a wide depending tongue or flange 9. Preferably the lower corners of this flange taper upwardly to provide inclined edges III which are continued in the lower edges of the tongues 6. The sheets 2 and 3, and especially the former, may be weakened, as for example by a perforated line I2 to afford means permitting hinging of the sheets just belowthe edge of the rectangular front portion of element 5. Thus either the front or rear sheet portion may or sheets I.

be swung outwardly from the support and the frame in which the same is received.

To secure the element 5 to the sheet I, various means may be employed, but I preferably press in the metal of the rear wall of member 5, as by a punching operation, to afford a plurality of indentations II which bite into the paper sheet I. These indentations are arranged so that the next lower element may have its metal supporting part 5 disposed between the tongue 9 and the back of the larger leaf 3 of the superposed element, the upper edge of the element 5 being juxtaposed to the protuberances II which may act as stops or abutments, although ordinarily the upper edge of such an element 5 may be spaced slightly below the portions II of the superposed element.

Preferably, as shown, the ends of the tongues are spaced inwardly from the edges of the cards Accordingly this arrangement permits the flanges of the supporting frame to have their edges spaced inwardly appreciably from the edges of the sheets or cards, so that substantial marginal areas of the cards overlap these flanges, and there is little danger of catching the edge of a card upon the edge of a flange. Fig. 2 shows such flanges I4 of a frame I5 supporting an index element in this manner. Furthermore, this arrangement may be employed to permit the use of supporting elements 5 of standardized size to carry cards of various widths, the panels or frames to receive the cards in each case having their flanges spaced at distances corresponding to the spacing of the portions 0 of the supporting elements 5, this dimension being independent of the overall width of the panel and the cards received thereby.

In order to facilitate observation of the condition of material which has been written or typed upon the individual index cards, I may provide a signal 20 receivable by the lower marginal portion of the card and adjustable laterally of the same. For this purpose the sheet 3, for example, may have a lower portion folded and turned upwardly, as designated by reference character 3, Fig. 3, so that the flange 3 is in substantial parallelism with the adjoining portion of the leaf 3. Preferably the flange or upturned edge of the leaf 3 may be held in its upturned position by a resilient transparent sheath 2|, this sheath being substantially U- shaped, as viewed in cross section, see Fig. 3, and having its longer front leg provided with a downturned flange 22 engaging the edge of the upturned portion 3' of leaf 3. The opposite leg of the sheath 2| engages the rear face of the leaf 9. Below the downturned flange 22 of the sheath, I preferably provide a series of openings 24 in sheet'extension 3'. These openings may be of relatively small diameter so that there may be a large number of the same disposed within the width of a single index element or sheet. If desired, suitable identifying symbols 25 may be disposed upon the portion 3 of the element adjoining the openings 24. For example, the openings 24 may thus be numbered to correspond to the days of a month.

The signal 20 may be conveniently formed of resilient material, and preferably is provided with a color that contrasts with that of the sheet I and the tint of the sheath 2|. The general shape of the signal 20 is shown in Figs. 1 and 5, it being provided with a wider upper portion and with a narrower lower extremity 20' having an inwardly bent end 20. The larger upper portion of the signal may be grasped between the thumb and forefinger of the user of the index, and the signal may be lifted out of an opening 24 and thus removed from a card. When it is to be re-inserted in engagement with another opening 24, the sheath 2| may be sprung slightly so that the lower extremity 20 of the signal is readily inserted in the desired opening 24. The curvature or inclination of the end 20 of the signal facilitates its re-engagement with an opening in the upturned portion of the element.

Fig. 6 shows an optional arrangement of the holder or support for an index sheet MI, and in this embodiment of the invention the holder or support I05 may be formed of fiber board or pasteboard cut to provide a tongue I09 corresponding to the tongue or flange 9 of Fig. 4, and to provide projecting or laterally extending tongues I06, which, however, are in the plane of the body portion of member I09. Member I09, therefore, is of planar form and may be secured to the upper edge of sheet |0I by a plurality of aligned wire staples III. These staples cooperate with the tongue I09 and the adjoining upper margin of sheet ml in aflording a recess to receive the upper edge of the next lower index element. For this purpose the upper margin of the element I04 may extend somewhat above the edge of the sheet I 0|, as indicated by reference character I04 in Figs. 6 and 7. The staples III of one element may thus act as positive stops to engage portion I 04 of an underlying element to prevent the undesired relative movement of the index elements into fully overlapped rather than partially overlapped relationship.

Figs. 8 and 9 show a tongue or supporting element 205 which is connected to and integral with a sheet 20I. For this purpose the sheet may have an extension projecting above the edge I 90 of its body portion and folded back upon itself to provide a flange 209 of the same general shape as the flange 9, and to provide projecting tongues 200 above and substantially in the plane of the sheet itself. These tongues are preferably spaced from the upper edge of the sheet, and for this purpose the extension thereof is provided with a neck portion I91 defined by inwardly extending slots or recesses I90 adjoining the upper edge of the body, portion of the sheet. The tongue portion 205 of the element is retained in its folded shape by wire staples 2, which are disposed above the neck I91. In order to facilitate handling of the index sheet 2!, the neck I9'I is preferably provided with a scored olr slotted line I 95, thus to facilitate swinging of the main sheet MI in relation to the support or tongue 205.

Fig. 10 illustrates an optional embodiment of the invention wherein the body sheet 30| may be provided with a support 905 of the general shape illustrated in Fig. l, the support 905 preferably being formed however out of sheet material such as thin flber board, and having its laterally projecting tongues 905 disposed in the plane of its rear wall. In other words, the connecting portions 9 of Figs. 1 and 2 are omitted. This type of support may have a depending flange or tongue 309 and may be held on the iaiplper margin of body sheet 90| by wire staples It is evident that this invention affords index cards having generally rectangular body portions and supports with laterally projecting tongues terminating within the sides of the body portions, i. e. the supports have substantially less width than the body sheets themselves. Cards of this character may therefore be supported by coplanar retaining flanges which lie over the laterally projecting tongues, while the body sheets provide marginal areas overlapping the outer faces of these retaining flanges. If desired sheets of this type may be provided with retainers on their lower edges to receive colored signals, these signals being adjustable laterally of'the respective cards to aiford information in regard to the same. If desired symbols may be provided upon the lower parts of the cards or upon the retainers to permit more ready observation of the position position to the adjoining portion of the sheet,

said sheath having a flange extending downwardly between the upper edge of said margin and the adjoining body portion of the sheet and having a flange overlapping the opposite face of the sheath, said upturned margin having a series of openings therein, and a signal with a narrow lower portion inserted in one of said openings.

openings, and a signal of sheet material having a portion inserted in one of said openings and a portion visible through said-transparent retainer. 4. An index card comprising a bodv'sheet of generally rectangular outline, said card having a lower portion provided with a row of openings, and a colored index signal having a narrow lower extremity inserted in one of said openings, and a larger portion visible above the opening.

5. An index card comprising a body sheet of generally rectangular outline, said card having a lower portion provided with a row of openings, and a colored index signal having a narrow lower extremity inserted in one of said openings, and a larger portion visible above the opening, and symbols identifying the respective openings at the bottom of the card.

6. An index card comprising a body sheet of generally rectangular outline having an upturned lower margin, and a transparent sheath holding said upturned margin in normal parallel juxtaposition to the adjoining'portion of the sheet, said sheath being resilient to permit the tilting of said upturned margin away from the adjoining portion of the sheet, said upturned margin having a row of openings therein, and a signal having a narrow lower portion inserted in one 25 and projecting above the sheath. '7. An index card comprising a body sheet of generally rectangular outline having an upturned lower margin, and a transparent sheath hold-,

ing said upturned margin in normal parallel juxtaposition to the adjoining portion of the sheet, said sheath being resilient to permit the tilting of said upturned margin away from the adjoining portion of the sheet, said upturned margin having a row of openings therein, and a signal having a narrow lower portion insertedin one of said openings and visible through the sheath, the signal having a larger portion above the opening and projecting above the sheath, the lower extremityof said signal being turned at an angle to the adjoining portion thereof to facilitate its insertion in one of said openings.

, JAMES H. RAND. 

